Scoring device for games



Dec. 13, 1949 F. J. GUNTHER SCORING DEVICE FOR GAMES Filed Jan. 20, 1948 IINVENTOR. Fred J. Gunther Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- SCORING DEVICE FOR GAMES Fred John Gunther, Racine, Wis.

Application January 20, 1948, Serial No. 3,207

4 Claims.

I The present invention relates to scoring devices for games, and more particularly to cribbage boards.

In playing the card game known as cribbage, a scoring board is normally employed that includes two or more scoring tracks, each including a start position, a finish position, an outgoing path from the start position and an adjacent incoming path to the finish position. Each of the paths includes a number of adjacent sections, each having a fixed number of scoring holes therein. Ordinarily two score marking pegs are utilized that are placed in spaced-apart relation in two of the scoring holes mentioned, the front marking peg indicating the present total score of the player and the rear marking peg indicating the prior total score of the player. After each play, the player advances the old rear marking peg ahead of the old front marking peg in order to indicate the new total score and the number of points made on the last play by the respective new relative positions of the marking pegs.

Occasionally, a player will thoughtlessly make an error in scoring after a play by retracting the old front marking peg behind the old rear marking peg, thereby subtracting the number of points made on the last play from the old total score. This error in scoring is known as crawfishing, since the new total score thus produced is moved backwards with reference to the old total score. Subsequently, the player may observe that he has crawfished in scoring and insist upon correcting the total score; which causes considerable confusion as the opponent ordinarily is not aware of the crawfishing and cannot recall the prior factors of the present total score.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a scoring device for games that is so constructed and arranged that backward scoring is inherently discouraged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scoring device including a board provided with a path that is inclined with reference to the direction of scoring in order to serve as a guide in the proper manipulation of a cooperating score indicating element.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cribbage board of improved construction and arrangement.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement of the elements of the scoring device, whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a scoring device embodying the present invention; Fig. 2 is an end view of the scoring device shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side View of the scoring device shown in Figs. 1 and 2; and Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary side view of the left-hand portion of the scoring device shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, there is illustrated a scoring device l0 embodying the features of the present invention, and comprising a board II provided with a plurality of substantially identical scoring tracks or circuits thereon, three scoring tracks being illustrated respectively at I2, I3 and I4. Each of the scoring tracks includes a start position, a finish position, an outgoing path or length from the start position, and an adjacent incoming path or length to the finish position, the scoring track I2 including the start position I5, the finish position I6, the outgoing path from the start position I5, and the adjacent incoming path I8 to the finish position I6. The outgoing path I! comprises a plurality of adjacent sections I9; and the incoming path I8 comprises a plurality of adjacent sections 29. Each of the sections I9 comprises a fixed number of scoring positions 2|; and each of the sections 20 comprises the fixed number of scoring positions 22.

Since the scoring device I0 is especially designed for keeping score in the card game cribbage, six individual sections I9 are provided in the outgoing path I'!; and six individual sections 25 are provided in the incoming path I8. Also five individual scoring positions 2| are provided in each of the sections I9; and five individual scoring positions 22 are provided in each of the sections 29. Thus thirty scoring positions 2| are provided in the outgoing path I1; and thirty scoring positions 22 are provided in the incoming path I3. Final the scoring device I0 comprises a plurality of score-indicating elements or pegs 23, two of which are employed in markin the score on each of the scoring tracks I2, etc.

In scoring the card game cribbage on the track I2 a peg 23 is moved from the start position it into the various scoring positions 2i along the outgoing path I] toward the left-hand end thereof, then into the various scoring positions 22 along the incoming path l8 toward the right-hand end. thereof, then into the various scoring positions 2| along the outgoing path I'I toward the lefthand end thereof, then into the various scoring positions 22 along the incoming path It toward the right-hand end thereof, and ultimately into the finish position I6; the game comprising 121 points. In scoring the game on the track I2 ordinarily two of the pegs 23 are employed, the front peg 23 indicating the present total score, the rear peg 23 indicating the prior total score,

I and the number of scorin positions between 3 the two pegs 23 indicating the number of points made by the player on the last play. After each play the player moves the rear peg 23 ahead of the front peg 23 a number of scoring positions corresponding to the number of points made on the last play.

Each of the sections 19 in the outgoing path I! is upwardly inclined from the right toward the left in the direction of scoring producing six individual teeth-like formations on the board II in the outgoing path I i; and likewise, each of the sections 20 in the incoming path I8 is upwardly inclined from the left toward the right in the direction of scoring producing six individual teethlike formations n the board I! in the incoming path I6. The lower ends of the sections l9 and 20 are disposed in a lower plane passing through the top surface of the board H; and the upper ends of the sections is and 20 are disposed in an upper plane positioned above the top surface of the board H; the lower and upper planes mentioned being arranged in substantially parallel vertically spaced-apart relation. The start position '5 and the finish position i5 constitute recesses or holes formed in the top surface of the board If and arranged substantially normal thereto; the scoring positions 2| constitute recesses or holes formed in the top surfaces of the individual sections 59 and arranged substantially normal thereto; and the scoring positions 22 constitute recesses or holes formed in the top surfa es of the individual sections 20 and arranged substantially normal thereto. Accordingly, the scoring holes 2| the individual sections !9 are tilted slightly toward the right with respect to the vertical and consequently against the direction of scoring; and likewise, the scoring holes 22 in the individual sections 20 are tilted slightly toward the left with respect to the vertical and consequently against the direction of scoring. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, the rear peg 23 positioned in the scoring hole 2| provided in the section is at the left-hand end of the outgoing path i'l' is tilted toward the right against the direction of scoring and the adjacent top surface of this section 19 is inclined upwardly toward the left in the direction of scoring; and likewise, the front peg 23 positioned in the scoring hole 22 provided in the section 2d at the left-hand end of the incoming path i8 is tilted toward the left against the direction of scoring and the adjacent top surface of this section 20 is inclined upwardly toward the right in the direction of scoring.

The arrangement of the upwardly inclined top surfaces I the sections 99 and 20 in the direction of scorFng is very advantageous as it inherently reminds the player that the scoring peg 23 should always be advanced up hill, thereby preventing, :or at least minimizing, backward scoring or ,crawfishing. Also the arrangement of the'scoring holes El and 22 in the respective sections lil- fl-fl slightly tilted against the direction of scoring and substantially normal to the top surfaces of the respective sections l9 and 20 readily facilitate insertion of the scoring pegs 23 thereinto.

In view of the foregoing it is apparent that there has been provided a scoring device especial- 1y designed for scoring the card game cribbage that embodies an improved arrangement for preventing backward scoring or cra-wfishing.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be un'derstoodthat various modifications may be'm-ade therein, and

it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A scoring device comprising a board carrying structure defining a scoring path extending in a predetermined scoring direction and including a plurality of adjacent sections each inclined in the same direction with reference to said scoring direction, each of said sections having a plurality of recesses therein spaced apart in said scoring direction, the lower and upper ends of said sections being disposed respectively in lower and upper substantially parallel spaced-apart planes providing a plurality of teeth-like formations on said board, and a score indicatinl; element adapted to be positioned in any one of said recesses.

2. A scoring device comprising a board carrying structure defining a scoring path extending in a predetermined scoring direction and including a plurality of adjacent sections each inclined in said scoring direction, each of said sections having a plurality of recesses therein spaced apart in said scoring direction, the lower and upper ends of said sections being disposed respectively in lower and upper substantially parallel spaced-apart planes providing a plurality of teeth-like formations on said board, each of said recesses being inclined against said scoring direction, and a score indicating element adapted to be positioned in any one of said recesses to tilt against said scoring direction.

3. A scoring device comprising a board carrying structure defining adjacent outgoing and incoming scoring paths extending in a predetermined scoring direction, each of said scoring paths including a plurality of adjacent sections, each of said sections being inclined in the same direction with reference to said scoring direction, each of said sections having a plurality of recesses therein spaced apart in said scoring direction, the lower and upper ends of said sections being disposed respectively in lower and upper substantially parallel spaced-apart planes providing a plurality of teeth-like formations on said board, and a score indicating element adapted to be positioned in any one of said recesses.

4. A scoring device comprising a board carrying structure defining adjacent outgoing and incoming scoring paths extending in a predetermined scoring direction, each of said scoring paths including a plurality of adjacent sections, each of said sections being inclined in said scoring direction, each of said sections having .a plurality of recesses therein spaced apart in said scoring direction, the lower and upper ends of said sections being disposed respectively in lower and upper substantially parallel spaced-apart planes providing a plurality of teeth-like formations on said board, each of said recesses being inclined against said scoring direction, and a score indicating element adapted to be positioned in any one of said recesses to tilt against said scoring direction.

FRED JOHN GUNTHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED :STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,394,715 Culver s Oct. 25, 1921 2,010,160 Meyer Aug. 6, 1935 

